Other Zoo News Archives - Page 5 of 6

UPDATE: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s reopening date has been changed from April 1, 2020 to April 17, 2020. This is an update to the Zoo’s official statement from March 16, 2020, which you can find below.

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – At Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, we believe we have multiple responsibilities to our community, in addition to our responsibilities to the natural world. Our unique atmosphere allows friends and family to spend quality time together, while providing our guests an opportunity to spend time in the outdoors, which has been shown to improve both physical and mental well-being. All of these were reasons that Cheyenne Mountain Zoo remained open to the public through today.

While we had support from city and county government officials to remain open with our already strong precautionary measures, the time has come to support our country’s decision makers and unite behind a common goal. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is announcing a temporary closure of its public operations in response to today’s request by President Donald Trump to join together to suppress the COVID-19 virus. The closure will be effective tomorrow (Tuesday, March 17, 2020), and we are already beginning to plan our reopening on April 1, 2020, assuming that the current 15-day guidance has not been extended. As soon as possible, we want to provide a beacon of hope for our community in this unusual time.

During the closure, the Zoo’s staff will keep busy, not only providing our excellent standard of care for our animals, but also with other important work around the Zoo. The closure will provide Zoo staff with the opportunity to continue to prepare for Association of Zoos and Aquariums accreditation inspections scheduled for this summer, which is something that happens once every five years. Staff will also focus on detailed preparations for the opening of the Zoo’s new hippo and African penguin exhibit, Water’s Edge: Africa, which we hope will open sometime in May. We are thankful to be able to keep all of our Zoo family employed through the 15-day closure.

All public EdVenture programs originally scheduled through March 31, 2020 are canceled or will be rescheduled, including Spring Break Camp, Stroller Safaris, WildNights, ZOOMobile outreach programs, birthday parties and any other public programs. Please email [email protected] or call (719) 424-7827 for information about refunds or other questions.

While the Zoo is closed, the public is encouraged to stay virtually connected to our animals through our social media channels and website. On nice days, fans of our giraffe herd will continue to be able to watch the herd shift into their outdoor yard via the Zoo’s YouTube channel or at cmzoo.org/giraffecam. Zoo staff also will also continue to provide updates on our animals through our social media feeds: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Any further updates on the status of the Zoo’s closure will be updated via the green “alert” message on our home page at cmzoo.org.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s mountain Zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. In 2019, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #6 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #5 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s goal to help guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 233 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just a few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.

Here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, we believe we have multiple responsibilities to our community, in addition to our responsibilities to the natural world. Our unique atmosphere allows friends and family to spend quality time together, while providing our guests an opportunity to spend time in the outdoors, which has been shown to improve both physical and mental well-being.

On Friday, March 13, 2020, Governor Jared Polis issued guidance to cancel events and gatherings of more than 250 people. He clarified with Colorado cultural attractions, however, that outdoor venues can operate with larger numbers of guests as long as they don’t have more than 250 people in a single gathering space or building.

In an effort to fulfill the community’s need for activities during a stressful time and the need to be able to get outdoors for mental well-being, we are implementing the following changes to our daily operations, out of an abundance of caution, through at least March 30, 2020. As the situation with COVID-19 and community spread is constantly evolving, we will remain nimble to make other changes, as the situation warrants.

We are currently open for daytime admission during our normal hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last admission at 4 p.m., with the following precautions in place:

We are partnering with El Paso County Public Health and following guidelines set forth by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Governor Polis’ Office of Community Engagement.
Zoo staff will be maintaining increased disinfection protocols for high-touch areas throughout the Zoo.
We are encouraging guests to follow Governor Polis’ recommendations for social distancing, including allowing six feet between parties while enjoying the Zoo. Our open-air environment gives Zoo guests ample ability to enjoy the Zoo while keeping comfortable distances from other parties.
Also in accordance with the Governor’s recommendations, we will limit the number of guests in any Zoo building at any time to 250.
To ensure that we self-regulate our daily guest count, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will not use off-site parking during this time. This will prevent the need for shuttling guests on buses from an off-site location, and it will automatically limit our daily attendance. This may mean that you will be turned away if we are at capacity for our on-site parking lot. Please follow our parking signs for updates on our parking availability. Please also stay patient and flexible – we can often accommodate additional guests by mid-afternoon as earlier guests depart and free up space in our parking lot.
In addition to the numerous public restroom facilities with permanent hand-washing sinks found throughout the Zoo, we will be adding temporary hand-washing stations throughout the Zoo as they become available.
Our food concession areas are implementing additional rigorous protocols to increase their already frequent cleaning routine, creating new practices that will distance guests from areas where food is being prepared and other additional protocols to increase food safety.
The Zoo’s historic carousel will not operate during this time.

As you know, the situation with COVID-19 in our community and around the world is fluid and ever-evolving. Visit our website home page at cmzoo.org and click the “alert” link at the top of the page for the most up-to-date information on any changes to our operations that we may need to make.

We are working hard to be a resource for the community during this truly difficult time, and we believe these precautions will help us do that. But, we can’t do it alone. We need your help to reduce risk. Please actively follow the social distancing guidelines outlined above while you’re enjoying the Zoo, and stay vigilant with the precautions you and your family can take, like washing your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds at a time. Cover your cough. Limit touching your face. Above all else, make responsible decisions for the community and visit us another time if you’re feeling ill, or have been outside of the country or in contact with someone carrying the virus in the last 14 days. We and our animals will enjoy seeing you when you’re feeling better.

Running a zoo requires a substantial amount of water. There are guest facilities, water features in animal habitats, cleaning and sanitation, horticulture, food and beverage services, maintenance and, of course, human and animal water consumption to consider.

Leaning on his background in horticulture, environmental education and ecology, and his involvement in global conservation projects, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo President and CEO, Bob Chastain, decided to make Cheyenne Mountain Zoo the first ‘water neutral’ zoo in the world. So, he worked with the experts at Trout Unlimited (TU) to offset the Zoo’s water usage through a unique new program.

“We use about 16 million gallons of water a year,” said Chastain. “In the last several years through our own internal programs, we’ve reduced our water usage by about half, but we still use a lot of water. We live in a drought state, so I wanted to find a way to give that water back, so to speak, to the rivers in Colorado. With Trout Unlimited’s help, we can do that.”

A nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of habitat for trout and salmon, Trout Unlimited (TU) operates a program in the Rio Grande basin of southern Colorado. Under the program, TU arranges for releases of water from storage reservoirs to augment river flows for the benefit of trout populations and the riverine environment. For water year 2020, which runs from Oct. 1, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2020, Trout Unlimited will release 51 acre-feet of water from storage to the Rio Grande River or its tributaries on the Zoo’s behalf. The Zoo donated $15,000 of conservation funds to Trout Unlimited to support these releases.

Chastain is an outdoorsman. He likes to spend time rafting, fishing, hunting and hiking in the wild places along the Arkansas and Rio Grande Rivers. Over the last few summers, he has noticed a distinct decline in river water levels between early and late summer.

“I was rafting the Arkansas River late last summer and the difference in just a month and a half, since I had last rafted it, was dramatic,” said Chastain. “That got me thinking that if there was some way to contribute to water levels when they’re low during the winter months, we could make an impact.”

Roughly ninety percent of Colorado’s water supply is used by farmers and ranchers, according to Trout Unlimited, and this agricultural water use drives rural economies. Rivers also support many important functions in our state: feeding diverse ecosystems of plants and animals; generating tourism and making an economic impact on local business through its fishing, hunting, camping and whitewater sports; and transporting water from reservoirs to those who need it.

“Water rights use and administration in Colorado is extremely complex and each basin operates differently. TU’s approach is to use local staff who engage with water users and facilitate opportunities to do more with a critical and limited resource,” said Kevin Terry, Trout Unlimited’s Rio Grande Basin Project manager. “For instance, TU can inform water users on the needs of the environment and fishery, identifying partnership opportunities that farmers and ranchers can take advantage of if it works for their operations. The whole effort is like a giant dynamic puzzle, and TU brings expertise relating to specific pieces, which helps the water community of the Rio Grande be strategic and holistic in efforts to maximize the benefits of our precious water.”

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is supporting Trout Unlimited’s program to partner with water users and incentivize them to re-time portions of their water for delivery during the winter months when possible. Restoring stream flows below working reservoirs during the winter months, while simultaneously satisfying water-user needs, creates a better balance of water delivery for the environment, and the people who rely on it.

“We are grateful for our partnership with the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo,” said Terry. “With forward-thinking partners like the Zoo, TU is greatly improving habitat conditions for trout in the Rio Grande basin.”

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

About Trout Unlimited

Trout Unlimited is a national non-profit organization that works to protect, reconnect and restore habitat for coldwater fisheries.

We’ve created a CMZoo 2020 Bucket List! As a new decade approaches, see how many of these unique experiences you can check off the list.

Ride the Mountaineer Sky Ride – Our one-of-a-kind chair lift takes you high up above the exhibits, for a true bird’s eye view of our mountain zoo, Colorado Springs and the eastern plains. It’s open year-round, weather permitting. May 1 through Labor Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last ride starting at 4:30 p.m. September through April the Mountaineer Sky Ride runs weekends only from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the last ride starting at 3:30 p.m. Daytime Sky Ride membership passes can be purchased. With admission to the Zoo, combo package tickets are $4 for adults and $3 for children, or $5 for adults and $3 for children at the Sky Ride booth.

Mountaineer Sky Ride view looking east to the plains from seats above

Feed an Elephant – Have you ever been close enough to an 8,000-pound elephant to feel its breath on your hand? You can do that at CMZoo! For $10 or $15 (depending on how much you’d like to feed them), March through October, you can participate in scheduled elephant feedings. Check cmzoo.org/shows for a complete schedule of animal demonstrations.
Ride the Carousel – Feel the wind in your hair on our historic carousel. Built circa 1926 and acquired by Spencer Penrose from the Allan Herschell Company of New York to be installed in 1937, it has become a cherished feature of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
Have a Slice at Pizza with a View – This place might change your mind about the food options available at popular attractions. Aptly named “Pizza with a View” for its breathtaking scenery, this European-style pizzeria serves hand-made pizzas, salads, local craft beer, wine and dessert. It’s open year-round from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and gluten-friendly, vegetarian and vegan options are available.
See the Grizzly Bear Demonstration – At one of our most popular animal demonstrations, you’ll learn all about Digger and Emmett, CMZoo’s two male grizzly bears. The demonstrations take place daily at 2:45 p.m. in Rocky Mountain Wild, named Fifth Best Zoo Exhibit in the U.S. in 2019 by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice. Keepers work with one grizzly through a fence, mere feet away from guests, while another keeper trains with the second grizzly bear to demonstrate their flexibility, strength, speed and other natural behaviors.
Attend an Evening Event – From our popular family events, like our Halloween tradition, Boo at the Zoo, and our holiday lights display, Electric Safari, to our 21-and-up events throughout the year, our evening events offer a new perspective of the Zoo, as well as a tradition for our community. Find out more at cmzoo.org/events.
Feed the Giraffe Herd – Perhaps our most popular activity, feeding the giraffe is a must-do for anyone visiting Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Regardless of the weather, guests can feed our giraffe herd for $3 to $5 per bundle of lettuce. Once you’ve been licked by an 18-inch giraffe tongue, your life will never be the same.
Experience a WildNight – Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to have the Zoo to yourself after the sun goes down? WildNights are sleepover programs that include dinner, giraffe feeding, a guided evening tour, an up-close animal encounter at The Loft, a guided morning tour and admission to the Zoo for the following day. Sign up for a scheduled WildNight or create a sleepover of your own at cmzoo.org/wildnight.
Take an Outdoor School Class – CMZoo’s Outdoor School offers hands-on and interactive experiences and programs for people interested in connecting with nature, the outdoors, and their families. Classes occur on Zoo grounds, or offsite in other nature-based environments. The focus is less on animals at the Zoo and more on the powerful impacts nature has on us. For a full schedule of upcoming classes, visit cmzoo.org/outdoorschool.

Feed an African Rhino – For $10 or $15 (depending on how much you’d like to feed him), March through October, you can feed and get to know Jumbe, 16-year-old CMZoo African rhino. Visit cmzoo.org/shows for a complete schedule of animal demonstrations and feeding opportunities.
Watch the American Alligator Keeper Talk – Daily at 11 a.m. in Australia Walkabout, meet CMZoo’s gator keepers. Visit CMZoo’s three American alligators at their heated pool and rocks, to learn about their incredible intelligence and unusual digestive characteristics.
Take a V.I.P. Tour – If you’re looking for an extra-special behind-the-scenes experience, a CMZoo V.I.P. Tour may be for you! The V.I.P. experience includes admission to the Zoo for the day, a guided overview of the Zoo (from a golf cart), a Safari Trail tour of African Rift Valley or an exploration of The Loft, giraffe feeding and three behind-the-scenes animal encounters with participating animals of your choice. More information is available at cmzoo.org/viptour.
Attend World Giraffe Day – CMZoo hosts animal awareness events throughout the year, but one of our most popular is World Giraffe Day. It’s annually held on the longest day of the year to salute our longest necked animals in the world – June 21. The Zoo plans events throughout the day, including special enrichment activities and training programs with the giraffe herd.
Get Face-to-Face with an Orangutan – Visit CMZoo’s six orangs in Primate World. The great apes enjoy engaging with guests through glass that allows guests and Primate World residents to interact just inches away. Twice daily throughout the year, orangutans can participate in training and keeper demonstrations, where guests can get to know their personalities, learn about their family dynamics and witness their impressive intelligence.
Participate in the Chicken Parade at My Big Backyard – Consistently a favorite guest experience is the chicken parade, which occurs each morning and evening on warmer days throughout the year. Keepers invite guests to help the 18 chickens, of various unique breeds, parade from their overnight roost to their yard in My Big Backyard.
Feed a Domestic Goat – For $1, guests can feed our domestic goats, probably like never before. A bike-tire-and-pulley system allows guests to fill a cup with feed, which the goats can raise to a 20-foot platform where they stand by turning the bicycle wheel.
Splurge on a Behind-the-Scenes Encounter – Have you ever wanted to go behind the scenes at the Zoo, to participate in an animal training session, or even feed your favorite animal ambassador? Make memories with friends, family and our animals and staff by scheduling an encounter. North American river otters, African elephants, African lions, Amur tigers, orangutans and more can participate in these encounters. See the details at cmzoo.org/encounter.
Earn Bragging Rights at Run to the Shrine – May 16, 2020 is CMZoo’s annual Run to the Shrine – a four-mile walk/run through the Zoo, on breathtaking forest roads, to Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun. It’s the only day of the year that people can access the road on foot. And, if the views don’t take your breath away, the impressive 1,000-foot elevation gain will. More information at cmzoo.org/run (Early registration begins Jan. 30!)
Spend a Snow Day at the Zoo – Ask any CMZoo staff member – snow days at America’s mountain Zoo are magical. They usually occur during winter months, when guests can take advantage of Value Days admission pricing. Plus, smaller crowds mean guests get even more individual attention from our outgoing and engaging staff. Many animals, like mountain lions, Canada lynx and river otters, get a little extra spring in their step during cooler temperatures, too.
Attend a Wolf Feeding and Keeper Talk – These scheduled feedings are your best bet for seeing CMZoo’s endangered Mexican wolf pack up close. Because we intentionally keep our wolves as wild as possible, you won’t see wolves training with their keepers. But, at feeding time, keepers will help you get to know the pack dynamic, and tell you all about their tight bonds and what you can do to help restore this endangered species in the wild.

Back to The Waterhole

Many people wonder how we find the amazing staff who care for our animals. What are their backgrounds? What makes them qualified? How do they work together? Just as our year-round sponsor, Children’s Hospital Colorado, shares tips on choosing great child care, we’re sharing what we look for in the incredible folks who care for our animals and how their positions support each other.

It takes a lot of dedicated people to make sure Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s animals receive the best possible care, whether that’s ensuring the animals are physically and mentally stimulated, their habitats are clean and engaging, their diets support their nutritional needs, and any medical issues are addressed.

In addition to having the skills and experience necessary to care for our animals, our animal department staff is passionate about helping guests get to know the animals. Our goal is always to help people make personal connections with animals, which we hope will inspire them to take action to protect species in the wild.

From keeper assistants to keepers and lead keepers, animal care managers and more, our team members’ animal care experience varies, but attention to guest service is a trait CMZoo values just as equally.

“Our animal department team members have a variety of experience, but all have experience working with animals and the public,” said Jeff Halter, vice president of animal collections. “We look for people who are passionate about animals and people. It makes our searches for candidates somewhat difficult, because some people who get into this field are there for the animals and might not immediately see the importance of helping people care about them as much as we do. That may make you a successful candidate for other organizations, but not here. The passion here has to be for connecting guests and animals.”

Although that combination of skills can be hard to find, it’s vital for reaching our organization’s goals. Our animal care staff is a unique group of people who can comfortably communicate with people and animals, while being able to act calmly under pressure and work in challenging physical environments.

“When we interview potential new team members, I’m looking for qualities that your parents probably taught you. ‘Be a good person. Be nice. Share.’” said Halter. “You need to have worked with mostly exotic animals, and also have similar philosophies about how animals in human care are managed. Your background and experience need to align with ours, so that we can trust that your assumptions about how we’d like you to manage something without immediate managerial input are correct.”

Keeper assistants are there to help animal keepers with day-to-day tasks, like feeding, preparing enrichment for animals, and preparing and distributing animals’ diets. Handling these tasks allows keepers to focus on animal training behaviors and demonstrations that help connect guests with animals. Keepers are fundamental in monitoring animal welfare and relaying any issues to veterinary staff and management, so decision makers are connected and can act quickly to address those issues.

Lead keepers maintain a bigger picture of what needs to occur daily in their animals’ areas. They set goals and work with managers, keeper assistants and their fellow keepers to make sure projects are being completed. They also act as a voice to relay animal updates and direction between managers and keepers.

Animal care managers each oversee multiple animal areas. For example, one manager oversees Monkey Pavilion and Primate World, while another oversees Australia Walkabout, Rocky Mountain Wild and Asian Highlands. They also manage the keepers in those areas, handling their schedules, training and more.

They’re also focused on working with Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Taxon Advisory Groups – which examine the sustainability and conservation needs of entire taxa and develop recommendations for population management and conservation based upon the needs of the species and AZA-accredited institutions. They’re also responsible for working with each species’ AZA Species Survival Plan (SSP) to make sure we’re following breeding recommendations and transporting or receiving animals, based on those recommendations. As part of their work with SSPs, they manage the introductions of animals to each other to support breeding or companionship plans.

“People who are successful at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo are positive, solutions-oriented people,” said Halter. “You have to have the ability to work as a team, sharing your experiences and skills with others to help us all grow as an organization. We become leaders in our field by doing the good work here and sharing it, so it will spill over and impact the greater Zoo profession.”

Back to The Waterhole

This week’s snow has been warmly welcomed by many CMZoo residents, including our three six-month-old mountain lion kittens. Visit our Instagram account and click on our Snow Day story to see our Rocky Mountain Wild animals soaking up the fun.Watch mountain lion video here.

What started in 1969 as a way for CMZoo fans to take a more active and supportive role at the Zoo is now known as a fundamental arm of the organization. This month, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Auxiliary celebrated fifty years of important contributions, cultural impact, conservation advocacy and evolution. Two docents, Ellie Solomon and Sally Goldstein, are still active members of the Auxiliary, with fifty years of service and counting. Although the docent organization operates independently from the Zoo, it is a valued and vital part of the Zoo’s success and culture.

“It started as a group of women who wanted to bring an educational aspect to the Zoo experience, which some may be surprised to learn was not the norm at that time,” said Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Auxiliary Past President, Glenna French, who has been a docent for ten years. “Docents are the original Zoo educators.”

The CMZoo docent program is one of the first three established, the only self-regulating program and the third-longest running auxiliary program in the nation.

“If you think about the era when this group established itself, it was a really socially pivotal time,” said Dr. Liza Dadone, CMZoo vice president of mission and programs. “This was a group of women who created a platform through which they could contribute their skills and knowledge for the greater good of animals, children and their community. To this day, they are an incredibly impressive and important part of our Zoo.”

Over the years, docents have embraced changes with grace. One superficial but notable change is the docent uniforms, which have gone from animal print ladies’ long coats and high heels – admittedly subpar equipment for giving tours and doing physical work at America’s mountain Zoo – to recognizable forest green polos, multitools and practical footwear. French and her colleagues joke about how as more men started to sign on as docents, the attire became somewhat of an issue to address. What hasn’t changed, though, is the auxiliary members’ commitment to supporting a Zoo they love.

“Docents have a passion for contributing to the Zoo’s success, whether here at the Zoo or around the world as we support field conservation efforts, financially and through educating and raising awareness,” said French. “We love everything that Dr. Liza is doing for giraffe conservation. Being able to talk to kids about the Quarters for Conservation program, and how when they visit the Zoo, they have a chance to choose which project they want to support is really empowering for them.”

There are two main tracks for docents: tour educators, who lead school and group tours throughout the Zoo; and interpretive educators, who perform educational puppet shows, present biofacts and educate guests at stations throughout the Zoo or on ZOOMobile outings – a program now managed by CMZoo’s EdVenture program, which was founded by docents under the name ‘ZOOM,’ or ‘Zoo on the Move.’

In response to changing times and adversarial situations in our country’s history, CMZoo docents established programs that made education more accessible for their community, like Classroom Safaris. Classroom Safaris started in 1973 as a way to bring the Zoo to schools during an historic gasoline shortage that made field trips unattainable for schools. These days, on-site tours make up a large part of their one million hours of service over fifty years. Docents have given more than 400 tours in the last ten years.

Safari Classrooms now take place before each tour, with docents visiting students at their schools to discuss the lessons they’ll study during their Zoo field trip.

“Tours have grown so much and have become quite complex,” said Charlotte Greene, a five-year docent and CMZoo Auxiliary continuing education coordinator. “We now use state education standards to create tour curriculum, which requires a lot of us as we build our tour plans and deliver on them. However, it speaks to the quality level of education these kids are getting when they come and spend time with us.”

The lessons include biology, environmental studies, taxonomy, anatomy and more.

“The interactions with the children and guests is so fulfilling,” said French. “Watching a sloth on the ropes in Monkey Pavilion and being able to share what we know about them really sparks those eye-opening moments when we know we’ve made an impact.”

Docents also contribute to the Zoo by making animal enrichment. They volunteer a required minimum of thirty service hours per year, in addition to volunteer hours and continuing education courses.

“It’s about connecting our guests with something in the natural world, right here at the Zoo,” said Greene. “Hopefully those connections inspire them with ideas to save our rainforests, learn about and support sustainable palm oil plantations and be more active with conservation.”

Next time you’re at the Zoo, please join us in celebrating half a century with CMZoo docents and thank our advocates in green polos for their tireless passion and support.

Have you noticed a few new faces and interesting accents around CMZoo lately? Get to know some of our visiting keepers, from Melbourne Zoo, in Australia, and hear about their favorite experiences from their time with us!

The animal care and guest services teams at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo are a hard-working and dedicated bunch. Each day, they navigate their mountain Zoo, preparing it for thousands of guests to safely explore and make connections with the animals who live there. That means, at a minimum, working with the commissary team to prepare and deliver hundreds of pounds of food, collaborating with the veterinary and animal behavior staff to ensure their animals are healthy and enriched, maintaining the safety of guest viewing areas, and, yes, scooping a fair amount of poop.

What many might not ordinarily consider, though, is how they safely operate during their daily encounters with animals. Keepers have protocols (otherwise known as administrative controls) and protective barriers (also known as engineering controls) in place that protect them from accidental and potentially harmful encounters with animals. The systems vary depending on the animal and the space.

In Australia Walkabout, alligator keepers use extended tongs to feed the gators, along with a portable Plexiglas barrier that can be positioned between the keeper and the alligator being trained. In African Rift Valley, the boardwalk around the giraffe yard allows guests to get close enough to feed the giraffe, but it is also designed to protect them. The height of the railing protects guests and keepers from a giraffe’s natural defense in the wild: swinging its muscular neck. CMZoo’s elephant feeding area has a marked safety zone that keeps visitors and staff out of reach of the elephants’ powerful trunks, along with vertical bollards that allow keepers to access elephants (without sharing the same space) for training and medical care, but which are close together enough to prevent the elephant from squeezing between them.

All of these safety measures, and many more throughout the Zoo, help keepers and guests stay safe while interacting with animals throughout the Zoo. In areas that have potentially dangerous animal areas, keepers have adopted a system that not only limits the physical opportunities for danger, but also the mental opportunities.

Basia Dann and Courtney Rogers are animal keepers in Asian Highlands, where the majority of CMZoo’s big cats live. Statistically, big cats in human care are the most dangerous to keepers. Tigers, leopards and mountain lions make up a small but significant number of the animals they care for daily.

Dann and Rogers are collaborating with the rest of the keeper teams at CMZoo, CMZoo Animal Collections Director, Jeff Halter, and other Associations of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited organizations, to adopt a safety system that is gaining traction nationally. The system establishes a series of engineered controls intended to make their time with these animals as human error-proof as possible.

The system, in a nutshell, involves restricting personal conversations; ongoing two-person visual and verbal confirmations of animal locations, actions taken and next steps; and a color-coded, two-lock system that ensures that two people must verify that a space is safe to enter, reducing accidental keeper access to a space where a dangerous animal might also have access.

“When we prepare to enter a dangerous animal space, we have agreed that all casual conversation has to stop, and we communicate strictly about the task at hand,” Dann said. “We say, out loud, every step we’re taking and vocally confirm each other’s observations and next steps. It’s a way to slow each other down during routine tasks, and to hold each other and ourselves accountable for checking every box in place to make sure we’re as safe as possible.”

The first step the keepers take is to agree upon their mission. Then, they confirm the location of the animals, rather than their absence.

While entering the Amur tiger dens at CMZoo, but before unlocking animal access doors, the keepers confirm with each other that the two male Amur tigers, Chewy and Thimbu, are in their outside yards. They confirm Chewy’s location in an outside yard, and then move on to locate Thimbu, who is lying in a sunny, grassy spot in the side yard, watching the keepers intently. Their goal is to place enrichment into one of the tiger dens, and then give Thimbu access to that den.

“I see Thimbu in the side yard,” Dann said.

“Yep, there’s Thim, creeping on us right there,” Rogers confirms.

Next, they ensure all doors between the tigers and the space they plan to enter are closed and locked with color-coded padlocks. The series of color-coded locks is designed to prevent one keeper from entering a space where a tiger might be.

Each keeper is assigned a color-coded key for the day. In this case, Dann has a blue key that only unlocks blue locks. Rogers is assigned a yellow key, for yellow locks. Each animal access door is secured with one blue lock and one yellow lock, so no door can be opened without both keepers present and in agreement that the door is safe to open.

The keepers call it creating a “blue and yellow bubble” around the potentially dangerous animal. When they enter a dangerous animal space, access points have those locks in place, preventing them from being opened accidentally by themselves or someone else in the area.

“Not only can we not enter a dangerous animal space by ourselves, but because the animal shift doors are locked, no one can accidentally move an animal into the same space as you,” Dann said.

After the locks are applied to the door, the keepers also check each other’s locks. Once they’ve completed their task and they’re ready to ask the animal to shift into another space, the process repeats, now with the locks on the doors that access the space the animal is moving to. With each area the animal or the keepers enter, the system ensures there’s a secure and locked door between them.

The process of shifting Thimbu, an Amur tiger, from one space to another takes about ten minutes, but that’s because the keepers have been practicing this new process and are taking it very seriously. Everyone agrees that additional time equals additional safety.

The system is not a CMZoo-original idea, and isn’t unique to the Zoo industry. It was first implemented in zoos by Palm Beach Zoo, in response to a tragic incident with an experienced keeper and a tiger. Halter is part of an AZA safety committee which shares many example practices developed in AZA-accredited zoos, including engineering controls.

“Just because another facility isn’t using this system doesn’t mean their system isn’t safe,” Dann said. “We’re working to collaborate with our fellow CMZoo keepers and keepers from other AZA-accredited organizations to see if this system would work for them, and to see what we can learn from them.”

The team says they think their process will keep evolving, and that the collaboration with other animal keepers is the best way to learn what’s working and what might have potential to be an unsafe situation. Dann is scheduled to present what the CMZoo big cat teams have learned, at a national zookeeper conference in July.

Keepers demonstrate system in behind-the-scenes tiger den:

Have you ever wondered how Cheyenne Mountain Zoo staff members navigate the multitude of opportunities for fun, when they spend their days off at the Zoo? (Yes, we spend our free time here, too.) Well, you’re in luck. CMZoo staff members put together a list of “CMZoo Pro Tips” to help you get the most out of your next visit to America’s mountain Zoo.

Pro Tip #1: Arrive Early

Jane Majeske, CMZoo guest services director, says arriving early is key to a fulfilling and easy-going Zoo experience.

“Mornings at the Zoo are really enjoyable,” Majeske said. “The animals are really active in the morning. They’re waking up, getting breakfast, greeting their keepers and seem excited to start the day.”

Parking is more readily available when we first open. During the peak season’s busy days, Zoo parking can fill up, and free off-site parking and free shuttles usually begin running by 11 a.m.

“You can call the Zoo on your way to find out if we’re running our off-site parking shuttles,” Majeske said. “If they’re already running, we can tell you where to park and catch a shuttle, to save you some time on your way in.”

You can also just watch for helpful temporary signs as you drive up, which will direct you to the free off-site lot we’re using that day.

Bonus Tip: On Saturdays and Sundays, from June 1 through Labor Day, CMZoo members can gain exclusive early entry to the Zoo at 8 a.m. It’s a great time to grab a coffee from The Cozy Goat and to watch the animals greet the day.

Pro Tip #2: Seize the (Imperfect Weather) Day

Ilana Cobban, senior lead keeper in Encounter Africa, has worked at the Zoo for 17 years. When she’s not busy caring for CMZoo’s African elephant herd or black rhino, she can sometimes be found enjoying a cloudy day with friends and family at the Zoo.

“My ‘pro tip’ is to not come on a sunny, warm weekend day,” said Cobban. “Come in the middle of the week, when the weather is ‘borderline’ and there are fewer people here and more time for you to take it in. Stick around after animal demonstrations to watch the animals and engage with their keepers, because you never know what you might learn or get to see.”

Pro Tip #3: Check the Animal Happenings Schedule

Overwhelmingly, CMZoo staff says the animal demonstrations and keeper talks provide the best opportunities to connect with CMZoo animals. Daily, every 15 to 30 minutes, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., there’s a chance to learn about CMZoo animals, directly from the keepers who know them best.

In addition to the all-day animal feeding opportunities for a few extra dollars with giraffe, budgies, chickens and domestic goats, for $10 to $15, guests can participate in CMZoo’s scheduled keeper-led elephant or rhino snack times.

“It’s fun to feed Jumbe, our black rhino, and the African elephants because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Emmaline Repp-Maxwell, CMZoo membership manager. “What’s better than rhino slobber? Nothing.”

Daily at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., guests can get up close with the keepers to feed an elephant. Daily at noon, Jumbe is available for guest feedings.

Amy Schilz, senior lead keeper in African Rift Valley, says her favorite demonstration is the Grizzly Bear demo, ‘The Bear Necessities,’ daily at 2:45 p.m. in Rocky Mountain Wild.

If you’re planning ahead, you can find schedules at cmzoo.org/shows. Or, you can receive the Animal Happenings schedule for any day of the week via text message. Simply text “Zoo + day of the week” to 95577 (i.e. “Zoomonday” or “Zoosaturday”). Standard text message rates apply.

Pro Tip #4: Don’t Forget You’re on a Mountain

Guests, especially those visiting from lower elevations, should remember to bring (and drink) plenty of water and wear sunscreen to enjoy the day in our dry, 6,714-foot-elevation environment. We recommend drinking about 32 ounces of water during a two-hour visit. Bonus points for those who hydrate before they arrive.

If the walk starts to feel like a workout, day shuttle passes are available for $2. Our golf cart shuttles run consistently between shuttle stops established throughout the Zoo. Another way to rest is to have a seat for lunch, and watch an animal demonstration at the same time.

“One good ‘pro tip’ is to grab a picnic table by the carousel outside the Grizzly Grill for lunch,” Michelle Salido, lead keeper in Monkey Pavilion said. “If you time it around 11:45 a.m., those tables are the best place to catch both parts of the ‘Rainforest Review’ monkey demo, without having to move from one spot to another. You can enjoy lunch and a show with some awesome primates.”

Majeske also encourages guests to take a break while the adventure continues on CMZoo’s Mountaineer Sky Ride. For an additional few dollars, guests can enjoy the ski lift-like, 14-minute roundtrip ride with a stop at the top, while they take in amazing views and give their feet a rest.

Pro Tip #5: Go Backwards

Patty Wallace, lead keeper at Water’s Edge: Africa (opening in phases late summer 2019 and fall 2019), says the best way to experience the Zoo is by starting at the top.

“Make your way to the top of the Zoo and start in Encounter Africa, then head to Australia Walkabout,” Wallace said. “If you start there, everything else is downhill. Do the giraffe feeding last and you’ll have more of the exhibit to yourself. Even if giraffe go inside at the end of the day, you can still feed them in their indoor barn.”

Pro Tip #6: Don’t Speed by the Small or Domestic Animals

Carrie Ellis, animal keeper in Primate World, encourages adults to engage in the activities they may think are designed just for the kids.

“Areas like the domestic goat playground, My Big Backyard and The Loft are some of the most fun and interactive places in the whole Zoo,” Ellis said. “Plus, feeding opportunities and keeper talks happen throughout the day, so if you’d rather not stick to the Zoo’s schedule of animal demonstrations, you’ll still get a special experience with our animals.”